Page 73 of Wild Thorns

"Is that from a self-help book?"

"No." He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so gentle it made my breath catch. "That's from watching you. These past weeks. Seeing you become more yourself."

My heart was pounding in my chest, a rhythm I was sure he could hear. Could probably feel, given how close we were sitting.

And along with the attraction and the warmth spreading through my body: guilt. Sharp and familiar.

Two nights ago, I'd been in Jasper's arms, my back against the wall, his mouth hot on my neck while his hands had gone everywhere.

I pulled back slightly. "Eli..."

What kind of person does this make me?

"What's wrong?"

Everything. Nothing. The fact that I wanted to kiss him even though I could still feel the phantom pressure of Jasper's lips on my throat.

"I should go," I said, starting to stand.

His hand caught my wrist. Gentle, but the touch sent electricity up my arm.

"Serena. Wait."

I waited.

"Did I do something wrong?"

The genuine concern in his voice made it worse. He hadn't done anything wrong. I was the one who was broken, the one who apparently couldn't be trusted around any of the Thornwood brothers without losing her mind.

"No," I said. "You didn't. I just... I need a minute."

"Okay." He released my wrist, and I immediately missed the warmth. "Take whatever time you need."

But I didn't move.

I stood there, caught between the sensible choice and the one my body was screaming for, and I watched the candlelight flicker shadows across his face. The way it caught the hollow of his throat. The way it turned his dark hair almost auburn at the edges.

"The problem," I said slowly, "is that I don't actually want to leave."

His eyes visibly darkened.

"Then don't."

"It's not that simple."

"Why not?"

Because of Jasper. Because I was attracted to all three of them, and that made me some kind of... I didn't even know what it made me. Confused. Broken. Because wanting one brother was complicated enough without messing around with a second.

"It's just not," I said.

Eli stood. Slowly. Deliberately. He moved toward me, and I should have stepped back, should have maintained the distance, but I didn't. I stayed rooted to the floor while he crossed the space between us, his movements unhurried, his eyes never leaving my face.

"Serena," his voice was low, careful. "I'm going to ask you something, and I need you to answer honestly."

"Okay."

"Do you want me to kiss you?"